European lawmakers have voted to demand EU sanctions on Russian officials involved in the death of whistle-blowing Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.

In a resolution on April 2, the European Parliament called on the European Council to impose a visa ban and asset freeze on 32 officials.

The resolution included the names of those European lawmakers want punished.

The European Parliament had previously called on EU member states to emulate the United States' Magnitsky List and impose sanctions on Russian officials, but certain European countries have blocked any such move.

However, after last month's decision by EU foreign ministers to sanction Russian officials and Crimeans for their roles in the crisis in Ukraine, there are hopes that EU member states might change their minds.

Magnitsky died in a Russian jail in 2009 after uncovering a massive fraud scheme by officials.